First time in the menage

Today, being now in the field right next to the menage, it was time for 'Mr F' to come and try it out.

He had become a little distant over the past 2 weeks as I have not had as much time as I'd like to spend with him, especially now with the dark mornings.

I wondered what he would be like in the menage, if he was still connected or whether we would have to start all over.

Upon entering the field with his head collar he willingly wandered towards me, looking quite interested in what we might be doing this time. 

With the menage right adjacent to their field, 'Polly' won't have to panic. The girls have now moved into their winter field which is opposite the small field where 'Mr F' was placed upon his arrival in May. 

I lead 'Mr F' out of the field and we made our way over to the entrance of the mange. A wooden frame was surrounding the menage, keeping all the chippings in place. This meant he had to step over that border. Well, after some very good donkey imitations ('try make me move!') 'Mr F' eventually gave in, lifted his feet and followed me inside the menage. If 'Mr F' doesn't want to do something he just doesn't, he has many means of making things awkward but I am very patient. Every time I take hims somewhere new I make sure I have as much time as it takes to complete what we started. He knows that really there isn't much point in arguing and he gets bored of it eventually because I don't give in. I am happy to stand at a place for ages while he refuses to move. The trick is the timing here, (it's ALWAYS about timing, it just took me 2 years to notice this!) I won't release the gentle pressure on the lead rope, making sure I don't land up repeatedly tugging. As soon as he moves a step forward, however slight, I release straight away and reward him (a gentle stroke, or by tone of voice), rinse repeat. Because he knows that I won't give in he nowadays get's bored of this game quite quickly. 

And so we enter the menage. 'Oh gosh what is that on the floor!??' With much snorting it all had to be thoroughly examined. I walked him round and round, stopping in between so he could take it all in. I learnt by now that he is quite a bit of an adrenaline freak and any kind of reason to have a little fit is quite eagerly made use of. Even though things actually don't scare him, they are different, not in his 'control'.

Once he deems the place safe enough and realises that there are no nasty things jumping out from under all the shavings, I proceed with some very basic type of groundwork routine. I don't follow any school, I just aim for us to work as a team. If I walk slowly, does he walk slowly? If I run and suddenly stop, will he? All on loose rein and also without me physically leading him. Basically: is he with me? This isn't because I want to control him; to me it is a basic safety routine. Should ever anything happen to me, does he acknowledge my 'personal' space or will he be all over my toes? We used to be a great team in the past, when the bridle paths would be too steep and too stony I would get off and lead him. He would take grate care not to walk into me (a long lead rein is very handy in these situations). If I place my leading hand (yes, I have a leading hand with which I give him various signals as we walk)  behind my back it means 'Walk behind me, follow in my footsteps'. This is most helpful if we get surprised by ice or go trough deep mud. He HATES walking into deep mud and will automatically follow behind me, knowing that I will choose a better path. This of course means that I have to consider a route that is passable for him too. He used to be very responsive and attentive before the accident at the beginning of the year. Lets see where we pick up from.

To my very great surprise, he was even more attentive and responsive than before. But most of all it was his expression in his eyes that suddenly got under my skin: such openness, warmth and honesty. So pure. 'What do you want me to do? Yes I am 'listening'. Here right in front of me was this beautiful, at times very fiery being, so willingly trusting and following me. Why? I wonder every time. This pureness and honesty is such a great gift offered to us human beings and it will always touch me deep down.